Indicating-clock.



W. W. RHAME dz S. H. NUGKOLLS.

^ y INDIGATING CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED APB..25, 1910. 989,290, Patented Apr. 11, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1v.

Y. j Witnesses ,Ajmw/lnventow i b Z y A f Attorney W. W. RHAME & S, Hf NUCKOLLS.

IN DIC ATIN G GLOGK;

APPLICATION FILED APB. 25, 1910.

5 m w s Z Witnesses I Inventor;

Attoneys W. W. RHAME & s. H. NUGKGLLS.

INDIGATING CLOCK. I

APPLIOATlON FILED APB.. 25, 1910.

Patented Apr. 11, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Attorneys UNITED sTATEs PATENT WILLI-[E RHAME, F SUMMERVILLE, .ANDv SAMUEL H. NUCKOLLS, 0F CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA; s AID NUCKOLLS .ASSIGrNOR` T0 SAID RHAME.

INDICATING-CLOCK.

To all whom 'it lmay concern:

Be it known that we, VILLIE lV. RHAMEl and SAMUEL H. NUciioLLs, citizens of the United States, residing, respectively. at Summerville and Charleston, in the counties of Dorchester and Charleston, State of South Carolina, have invented a new and yuseful Indicatin Clock, of which the following is a speci cation.

This invention has reference to improvements in indicating clocks and is designed especially, though not necessarily, fory use in railway stations for indicating the time of leaving of trains, the indication being under the control of a suitable timepiece, while at proper intervals audible announcements are made by mechanism controlled by,

the timepiece.A

In accordance with the presentinvention,

there are provided lists ofthe trains,and

an index or pointer is .caused to move by .the timepiece progressively along the list so that an observer may see at a glance the time of departure of any train of the list, while audible announcements are made through the intermediary of a suitable sound repro- .clucing machine controlled by the timepiece and actuated in proper relation to the visual In accordance with the present invention provision is-made for changing the'relation y of the indicator and sound reproducing machine so that by the use of suitable sound records the audible lannouncements may be changed from time to time as desired.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which' drawings :-V

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an indi-y cator constructed in accordance with the present invention.v Fig. 2 is a-vertical front to rear section ofthe indicator structure of spective view of one` of the pointers or. inv

dices. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the contact members coacting with the pointers. Figs. 8 and 9 are side elevations of different forms of contactmembers ofthe kind shown in Fig. 7

Referring to the drawings there is shown Specicaticn of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 11,1911. Application ledvApril 25, 1910. Serial No. 557,452. v

a casing ldesignedvto house portions of the operating mechanism of the indicator and this casing. is preferably though not necessarily mounted on a pedestal 2 which may be secured at any suitable point onthe floorof the station Where the indicator is installed.

Of course the indicator structure may be mounted on or in the wall of the stationor any portion thereof, but it is usually pref-`y erable to support it on a `pedestal as shown in Fig. 1.. The casing may be madefof wood or metal or any suitable material and may be-of any ornamental shape. y On one facel c ing a vplane surface 4: of suitable character for marking thereon temporary information to be changed from time to time,-such information usually relating to the; arrival of trains as to whether they are on time or ,delayed. Of course the surface 4. may be used for any informat-iomdesired. y

In the particular showing of rthe drawings there is .produced on each sidel of -the frame 3, on the front ofthe casing, lists 5`of the trains, these lists usually relating to the deconlined to such information, as .any'data wherein predetermined times enter as a part of the information to 'be given may be displayed. The character of the station as to vparture of trains, although by no .means the number of trains departing will determine whether one or more lists will be used.

Exterior to the space utilized for thelist or lists there'k may be provided a space or spaces 6 in which may be displayed suitable advertising matter either confined to railf. Way matters or of a miscellaneouscharacter.

At the top of the4 casing, or at any other suitable portion there is housed a timepiece 7 of any 'suitable character with the dial por# tion 8 visibleat the front of the casingin proper relation to the list or lists 5. ln the vparticular structure g shown. the hour vhand arbor 9 of the timepiece iscontinued tothe rearv of vthe timepiece and -is ythere journaled in a ,bracket 10 carriedby the fraijnework or casing of the timepiece, the saidfloracket' also carrying a short lshaft 11 on which there is mounted a gear wheel12 meshing with a gear wheel 13 on the arbor 9. The bracket 10 also carries another short shaft 14 one end of which carries a gear wheel 15 meshing with the gear wheel 12 and the other end of which carries a sprocket wheel 16. The shaft 11 also carries a sprocket pinion 17 similar and adjacent to the sprocket pinion 16, t-he two pinions 16 and 17 rotating in opposite directions beca'useof `the intermeshing of the gears 12 and 15.

In the particular showing of the drawings there are two lists 5 on opposite sides of the frame 3 and this is the reason for providing two sprocket pinions 16 and 17, and if more than two lists be used additional pinions may be employed or other means may be used in connection with the additional lists for a purpose which will' herein'afterappear.

Theframe 3 is connected at the top and bottom with the front of the casing by short outstanding vwebs 18 so that the sides of the frame are spaced a short distance from the front of the casing 1.

Extending through the front of the casing near the upper and lower ends of the frame 3 are shafts 19, 20, 21, 22, the shaft 20 being underneath the shaft 19 and the shaft 22 being underneath the shaft 21. On .each shaft 19 and 21 is a respective sprocket pinv ion 23, 24, the pinions 16 and 23 'being connected by a sprocket chain 25 and the pinions 17 and 24 being connected by a sprocket chain 26. The several shafts 19, 20, 21', and l22 extend through the front of the casing and there each shaft carries a pinion 27, the

pinions 27 of the shafts 19 and -20 being connected together by a sprocket chain 28 and the pinions 27 of the shafts 21 and 22 being connected. together by a similar sprocket chain 29. When the clock or timepiece is in motion then the arbor 9 will rotate and this will impart movement throughthe pinions 13, 12 vand 15 to the shafts 11 ad 14 and from these shafts motion is transmitted by the sprocket pinionsv the'sprocket chains 28 and 29 v4by the pinions 27, the shafts 20 and 22 acting simply as.

idler shafts for maintaining the chainsl 28 and 29 in a suitably taut. condition.

Close to the outer run of the sprocket chains 28 and 29 are longitudinally slotted bars or guide strips 30, 31, respectively, each of which carries a contact plate 32 having one end bent at Aan angle as shown at 33 and there traversed by a bolt 34 provided with a wing nut 35 for ready manipulation. The other end of the plate 32 is free and may therefore possess limited elasticity. A

Fast to each chain 28, 29 are t-wo pointers 36 so located that one of these-pointers a't list 5 and these pointers are to be understood' in operation as moving downward. Each pointer '36 carries a contact terminal in the form of a strip 37 constituting a Contact brush designed to move over the contact plates 32 in electrical engagement therewith.

Within the casing and preferably though not necessarily in the lower portion thereof there is installed a sound reproducing machine 38 to a large extent diagrammatically represented. This sound reproducing machine may be of any 0f the well known types of the self restoring character so thatvwhen the record has been traversed by the reproducing stylus the'sound box will be returned to the initial position, and is equipped with the usual amplifying horn 39.

The Contact plates 32, because of the wing nuts 35 and the slotted strips 30 or 31, are readily located in the path of the respective pointers 36 so as to be engaged by the brush- 37 carried by each pointer 36, in any desired relation to the lists 5.

It will be observed that the plates 32 may be long or short in accordance with the desired extent of matter to be reproduced by the sound reproducing machine. In Fig. 8 a short strip 32 is indicated and in Fig. 9

la long strip 32 is indicated, and longer or shorter strips may be used as desired.

Let it be assumed that the lists 5 each contain a column designating the trains and the time of departure therefor, and the timepiece 7 is operating'- and that the chains 28 and 29 are,movin 'in accordance with the timepiece. The pointers 36 will therefore be moving down the lists 5 and will move into indicating relation to and then past the several indications on the lists and an observer by looking at the particular list' desired will find when the next train is to depart by the position o f the respective pointer 36 with relation to the list. The pointer 36 is assumed to travel over the list in accordance with the time indications of the timepiece so that by consulting the latter the observer may ascertain how much time will elapse before the desired train will depart.

It is often desirable that some special announcement be lmade with respect to certain trains, and in order that this may be done at the proper time the plates 32 are arranged .along the strips 30 in proper relation to the times for the departure of the trains so that the pointer 36 will move over these strips `land the brush 37 carried by the pointer willl make electrical |contact with the strips 32 in succession.

'The sound reproducing machine-38 1s assumed to be electrically driven as is custom- "ary and one side. of the motor is connected by-a conductor 40y to a battery 41 vWithin the casing 1, this' battery beingsho'vvn as mounted on suitable shelves-42 on oppositesides of the casing, with the lcells of the battery connected to ether by a lconductor 43 while the other si e of the battery is'connected by a conductor 44 toboth strips 30 and 31.-

The other side of the-motor ofthe sound reproducing machine38 may beconnected' by a conductor 45-,to both shafts 20 and 22 so that current will traverse the shafts and reach the chains 28 and 29 and from thel latter pass top the pointers 36. Consequently whenever a brush 37 comes in contact with a plate v there is established a circuit from g the battery 41 by Way ofthe conductor 44 to the respective strips 30 or 31 as the case may be, thence by way of the particular 25 plate 3 2 engaged by the brush 37 thence to the chain 28.01' 29 as the case may be| 'and to the shaft 20 or 22, thence by Way of the conductor to the motor of the sound reproducing machine 38, and nally returning to so thebattery by the conductor 40. So long as the .circuit 1s completed in the manner set.

- forth thesound reproducing machine 38 will operate'and an announcement will be heard issulng from the amplifier 39 and this announcement may be suiciently loud to be clearly audible throughout the area desired. As soon as the brush36 moves from the plate '32 with which it was in engagement the op- `eration of the soundreproducing machine 40' will cease.

By suitably providing the sound records and adjustingthe plates 32 with reference'to the lists 5 any audible announcement desired ma be had .in conjunction with any train an -in proper timed relation to the time of departure of such trains. Furthermore any announcement desired Whether relating to trains or net may be caused to issue from the mouth of the,a mpli ier 39.

. lthe spaces 6 may be made removable so asA It v'vill be understood of course that the lists 5 as Well as the advertisements Within to admit of change from time to time as may .that thel invention. may be embodied in 'other vbe'necessary or desirable- .-Whilethe drawings illustrate a practical form of the invention, it will be understood constructions and is therefore not limited to the form shown, but any changes in construction and arrangements of the pa'rts may be made so long as the salient features of the invention are retained. 1

Whatis claimed is z'-- 1. -An indicator. comprising a time piece, constantly visible indices other than the indicating hands of said time piece, endless carriers actuated by the-time piece and to which the indices are directly secured, la sound reproducing machine, and".v means. actuated by the carriers for causing theop7- eration of lthe sound reproducing machine in predetermined relation to the movable indices.

2. An indicator comprising i constantl visible indices' other.- 'ha h time indicating hands of saidjl endless carriers actuated by th nected,l a sound reproducing machin alii-1d. .j I

-sound reproducing machinev in. fpredeter-f means for causing thejlfoperation.

mined relation tothe movableeindices, lcorn'- prising contacts carried by the- 1, movableV indices, adjustable contacts ingfthef'apath. of the first named contacts, and an'electric cir.- cuit including the contacts: fand-- the soundf reproducing machine and adapted ;toihave aA source of electric energy includedthereim f endless carrier driven thereby,'": :indices directly connected with the carrieigsmeans coperating with the indices for imparting information visually, means for-imparting information audibly, and means adjustable" at will into coperative relationvto ythe-indices on the carrier for. causing the actuation ofthe audible means to produce long or short announcements.

4. An indicator comprising a clock, an endless carrier driven thereby, indices directly connected with the carrier, means jcoperating With the indices for imparting information visually, an. electrically actuated sound reproducing machine, and elec- 'i tric contacts controlled .bythe carrier for port, a contactcarried by each index on the carrier, and an electrically actuated sound reproducingmachine controlled Vby the said cont-acts on the contact support and on the carrler.

6. An indicator comprising a suitable casing, a clock therein, an endless carrier driven bythe clock AWithinthe casing, indices on the. carrier extending to the exterior of the casing, means onthe exterior ofthe casing `coperating with the .indices for imparting information visually, an electrically driven -sound reproducing machine within the casing, electric contacts in operative relation to the carrier, and other electric contacts carried by the carrier and coperating 4with the first named contact-s to cause the actuation of the sound reproducing machine at predetermined times.

7. An indicator comprising a suitable casing having means on its exterior for imparting' information visually, means also on the casing for the display of temporary information, a time piece carried by the casing, indices actuated by the timepiece and movablein operative relationl to the means for imparting information Visually, a sound reproducing machine in the casing, and

means cooperating withthe clock` driven indicating means for causing the actuation of the sound reproducing machine at predetermined times. i

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own, We natures in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIE W. RHAME. SAMUEL H. NUCKOLLS. Witnesses:

FRANK B. OCHSENREITER, C. E. PREINKERT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing vthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

have hereto affixed our sig-- 

